It was another dramatic day for L'Aquila, its surrounding areas and the rest of the nation as the state funerals of many of the earthquake victims were celebrated this morning. It is difficult to recover from the loss of a dear one, so this experience must have been extremely traumatic for all those ones who lost their families, relatives, friends and colleagues. Filling your eyes with beautiful things can be a good therapy and, since in yesterday's blog I focused on some of the Abruzzese landmarks destroyed by the earthquake, today, after seeing too many tragic images, I want to fill my eyes with more beautiful things.
One of the most refined and beautiful parts of many churches in and around L'Aquila are the peculiar rose windows characterised by beautiful stylistic and symbolical elements and details, such as leaves, columns and swirling motifs that, in some cases, remind of the decorations featured in the palaces built under Frederick II.
Among the most elaborate and interesting rose windows there were also the ones that decorated the façades of the L'Aquila-based churches of Santa Giusta and San Silvestro, which are currently both badly damaged. Their beauty is still preserved in the jewels produced by an Avezzano-based artisan, Giuliano Montaldi.
I remember seeing them in an exhibition and I found the mother of pearl, gold and silver rose windows decorated with precious stones and gems an interesting combination of art, architecture and artisanal craftsmanship.
I just hope these jewels won't be the only way to remember some of the most beautiful features that Abruzzo lost in this terrible earthquake and that we will be able to rescue and rebuild as many works of art as possible.
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